Jjiorbh  ^rriericaq  ^7 ha  Lari ^ 

AN 

eH^foricaf  aT^ti  ©e^cripit^e  ^iCefc"^ 

BY 

Charles  Sears 

_ 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  BY  EDWARD  HOWLAND. 


PRESCOTT,  WIS. 

JOHN  M.  PRYSE,  Publisher. 


ERRATA. 


Y 


The  following  corrections  of  typographical  errors  were  made 
by  Mr.  Charles  Sears  in  a  copy  of  the  Historical  Sketch  of  the 
Phalanx  sent  to  him  : 


P.  2,  3d  paragraph  from  bottom,  read  “unitary”  for  “arbitrary.” 


“  3,  last 
“  5,  8th 
“  7,  6th 
“  7,  7th 
“  8,  7th 
«  9,  3d 
“  9,  7th 
“  10,  7th 


“  “  “Giles”  for  “Giley.” 

top,  read  “constituted”  for  “constructed.” 
“  “  “members”  for  “numbers.” 

“  insert  “or  both”  after  “capitalist.” 

“  read  “guaranties”  for  “quantities.” 

“  “  “sincerely”  for  “since.” 

“  “  “Starks”  for  “Starlls.” 

“  “  “over-charge”  for  “our  change.” 


s-e  f 


<aJ\ 

8N  PKESENTING  to  the  Credit  Fonder  this  sketch  by  Mr. 
Ghas.  Sears  of  the  History  of  the  Phalanx,  it  may  not  be 
amiss  for  me  to  preface  it  with  a  few  remarks  concerning 
its  important  value  to  us  just  at  this  juncture,  while  we  are 
waiting,  and  gathering  together  our  strength  for  the  prac¬ 
tical  continuation  in  Mexico  of  the  social  experiment  which  was 
so  successfully  carried  out  by  The  North  American  Phalanx,  dur¬ 
ing  its  corporate  existence.  In  the  letter  to  me  accompanying  its 
transmission  Mr.  Sears,  in  speaking  from  experience,  advises  us 
“as  soon  and  as  fully  as  possible  to  institute  the  serial  organiza¬ 
tion  in  production,  4distri  bution  and  administration.” 

Most  probably  this  advice  will  not  have  the  force  to  the  very 
large  majority  of  the  colonists  that  it  has  to  me  and  to  Mr.  Sears 
himself.  To  enforce  it  he  quotes  the  dictum,  “The  Series  Distrib¬ 
utes  the  Harmonies.”  This  is  as  conclusive  to  me  as  it  is  to  him. 
My  knowledge  of  its  force,  however,  is  merely  theoretical.  I 
have  never  had  even  the  smallest  chance  to  practically  apply  it. 
To  be  sure,  for  the  past  twenty  years  or  more,  ever  since  I  had 
the  blessed  privilege  of  reading  Fourier  and  getting  my  mind  sat¬ 
urated  with  his  doctrines,  I  have  always  had  hung  up,  fastened  to 
the  wall  in  my  house,  these  mottoes,  by  him:  “The  Series  Distributes 
the  Harmonies”  and  “Attractions  are  Proportional  to  Destinies;” 
and  hundreds  of  times  have  explained  their  significance  to  inquir¬ 
ing  visitors  whose  attention  has  been  struck  by  them.  Until, 
however,  Mr.  Sears  made  this  mention  of  the  application  of  one 
of  them,  I  had  never  thought  of  the  possible  practical  application 
of  them  to  the  machinery  of  our  daily  lives. 

They  form  the  efficient  epitaph  carved  upon  Fourier’s  tomb,  and 
it  shall  be  my  first  care  in  Sinaloa  fo  see  that  they  are  present  in 
and  about  our  homes  in  Sinaloa,  together  with  the  mottoes  placed 
above  our  organ. 

In  his  historical  sketch  Mr.  Sears  explains  the  practical  way  in 
which  the  serial  method  was  made  the  basis  of  their  industrial  or¬ 
ganization,  and  the  success  which  it  gave  them.  I  am  sure  that 
his  suggestion  is  of  incalculable  benefit  to  us,  and  that  if  we  will 
study  it  out  we  will  all  of  us  become  so  convinced  of  it  that  we 
will  lose  no  time  in  organizing  ourselves  upon  the  serial  method 
as  the  first  step  before  us. 

Notice  in  his  history  that  at  first  there  was  no  attempt  made  to 
do  this.  The  experience  of  the  Phalanx  will  be  our  salvation  if 
we  follow  it. 

Whereas,  if  we  enter  upon  the  work  of  living,  as  the  first  set¬ 
tlers  at  the  Phalanx  did,  it  will  be  with  us  as  it  was  with  them, 
three  months  will  not  pass  before  we  shall  find  as  they  found,  “the 
president  and  his  associate  directors”  will  come  to  a  dead-lock 
“respecting  the  business  administration.” 

The  North  American  Phalanx  most  fortunately  was  in  relation 

4:2177 


•4 


reL  or  (Hcoo  of?  #afroiLu.cfiot2 


with  some  persons  who  had  evidently  an  accurate  knowledge  of 
and  a  confident  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  a  serial  organization.  Who 
these  persons  were  I  do  not  know,  though  I  am  pretty  certain  Mr. 
Sears  was  one  of  them. 

To  my  mind  the  practical  adoption  of  this  method  in  every  way 
in  which  we  can  apply  it,  is  all  that  we  want  to  fully  equip  us  for 
our  work.  We  will  find  in  practice  that  it  is  the  only  method  for 
uniting  harmoniously  the  principles  of  democracy  with  all  that 
is  good  in  the  one-man  power. 

In  all  industrial  enterprises  to-day  the  workers  are  supposed  to 
be  insubordinate  unless  they  meekly  and  unquestionably  submit 
to  the  boss,  though  he  may  be  only  an  incompetent  tyrant. 

I  believe  that,  by  the  introduction  and  practical  operation  of  the 
serial  method  of  organization  in  our  enterprise,  we  shall  make  a 
vindication  of  association  that  will  do  much  to  remedy  the  sad 
tendency  so  rapidly  working  to  corrupt  and  destroy  all  the  prog¬ 
ress  we  have  ever  made  toward  the  establishment  of  democratic 
principles. 

There  are  several  other  points  suggested  by  Mr.  Sears’  sketch  I 
wished  to  make,  but  I  shall  defer  the  discussion  of  them  until  we 
meet  personally,  calling  attention  only  to  the  points  of  comparison 
between  our  movement  and  theirs. 

Mr.  Sears  gives  us  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  move¬ 
ment  resulting  in  the  Phalanx  began;  our  subscribers  have  been 
found  entirely  by  their  attraction  to  the  organization  advocated 
by  the  paper  issued  at  Hammonton.  The  education  of  our  sub¬ 
scribers;  their  discontent  with  the  present  condition  of  social 
affairs,  and  their  belief  that  it  is  quite  possible,  by  the  adoption 
of  such  social  methods  of  organizations  as  we  have  proposed  from 
the  first  to  enter  upon  a  new  and  progressive  life,  fit  them  better 
for  success  than  were  the  persons  who  gathered  first  to  organize 
The  North  American  Phalanx. 

But  in  addition  we  have  the  opportunity  to  use  the  experience 
of  the  Phalanx  and  to  commence  with  the  important  addition  of 
the  system  of  serial  organization,  which  they  arrived  at  only  after 
their  business  admistration  hqd  come  to  a  dead-lock,  and  fortun¬ 
ately  the  knowledge  of  the  serial  method  of  organization  was 
presented  to  them  and  accepted  after  the  fullest  examination. 

Let  us,  while  waiting  for  the  call  to  move,  spend  the  time  in 
studying  the  matter  of  serial  organization,  so  that  when  we  meet 
in  Sinaloa  we  shall  be  ready  to  understanding^  set  about  it. 

For  the  purpose  of  finding  out  about  it,  this  history  by  Mr. 
Sears  is  sufficient.  Of  course  none  of  us,  as  far  as  I  know,  have 
had  anything  but,  at  most,  a  theoretical  knowledge  of  it,  but  we 
can  come  together,  if  we  feel  its  importance,  ready  to  take  hold  of 
it  and  organize  it  for  immediate  application  as  soon  as  we  are  on 
the  ground. 

Another  word  concerning  our  position  financially  compared 
with  that  of  the  persons  who  organized  the  Phalanx. 

They  started  with  a  debt  upon  their  place. 

Let  us  on  no  consideration  incur  a  debt.  I  do  not  fear  that 
there  will  be  any  need  of  it,  but,  anyhow,  let  us  resolve  to  do  with 
what  we  have. 


Edward  Howland. 


— ©Jfte  riortFi  J\menea^  <jpfia?an£ 


AN  HISTORICAL  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  SKETCH. 

—BY — 

-^•CHARLES  SEARS.^- 

1879. 


INTRODUCTORY. 

,  LBERT  BRISBANE  in  1843  published  in  the  New  York 
Tribune  a  series  of  articles  on  the  reconstruction  of  so¬ 
ciety;  contrasting  the  present  industrial  anarchy  through 
conflict  of  interests,  waste  in  production  and  distribu¬ 
tion,  disorderly  competition,  and  the  increasing  servitude 
of  the  masses  under  the  hireling  system  of  labor,  with  a  society 
organized  on  the  basis  of  Joint  Stock  Property;  Co-operative 
Labor;  Association  of  Families;  Mutual  Guarantees;  Honors  Ac¬ 
cording  to  Usefulness;  Integral  Education;  Equitable  Distribution; 
Unity  of  Interests.  These  articles  contained  a  popular  exposition 
of  the  science  of  society  discovered  by  that  gifted  man,  Charles 
Fourier. 

Here  was  a  genius  who  had  scanned  the  course  of  time  and 
made  a  chart  of  societary  evolution,  from  Edenism  to  the  close  of 
man’s  career  on  the  planet,  distinguishing  thirty-two  periods. 

He  made  an  analysis  exhibiting  a  comprehensive  history  of  the 
human  race,  condensed  into  formulae  and  tables,  containing  the 
characteristics  of  each  form  of  society  from  the  first  to  modern 
civilization,  which  ranks  as  the  fifth,  and  through  three  succeeding 
stages,  as  sixth,  named  Guarantism,  (which  is  a  system  of  Unitary 
Insurance,  including  guaranty  of  the  security  of  capital;  guaran¬ 
ty  of  remunerative  employment  to  the  laborer;  the  dismissal  to 
the  ranks  of  the  producers  of  useless  middle  men — in  a  single 
phrase,  it  is  a  system  of  organized  production  and  distribution 
with  mutual  guaranties.) 

The  seventh,  designated  as  Simple  Association,  or  association 
of  classes,  as  farmers  by  themselves,  artizans  by  themselves,  man¬ 
ufacturers  by  themselves,  etc. 

This  form  of  society  retains  all  the  organic  features  of  Guaran¬ 
tism  and,  besides  these,  it  includes  the  association  of  families  and 
the  organization  of  domestic  labor. 

In  this  society,  wage  labor  is  fully  abolished;  the  laborer  is  co- 
prorietor,  self-employed  and  shares  proceeds. 

The  next  term  in  the  series,  the  first  octave  in  the  gamut  of 


2  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 

societary  evolution,  he  names  Compound  Association,  or  Harmon- 
ism. 

In  it  are  associated  all  classes,  all  pursuits  and  all  decrees  of 
fortune. 

Every  interest  is  provided  for,  by  an  organization  which  embraces 
all  details  of  production  and  distribution;  and  a  system  of  natural 
and  integral  education  is  instituted— that  is,  a  complete  system  of 
physical,  mental  and  emotional  development,  intimately  connect¬ 
ed  with  daily  pursuits,  provided  for;  that  art  and  the  science 
which  underlies  art  may  be  taught  together;  that  theory  and  prac¬ 
tice  may  go  hand  in  hand  and  that  the  individual  may  have  the 
command  of  his  whole  personal  power  and  enjoy  the  conditions 
of  expressing  it. 

The  industries,  education  and  recreations  are  carried  on  by 
series  of  groups  freely  formed,  each  group  undertaking  the  con¬ 
duct  of  some  detail  of  production,  distribution,  education,  elc. 

Taste  is  regarded  as  an  original  endowment  of  the  soul,  hence 
a  permanent  motor  and  an  indication  of  capacity;  taste  or  pref-* 
erence,  therefore,  dominates  in  the  selection  of  pursuits.  A  man 
having  himself  on  his  own  side  works  with  more  force,  greater 
skill  and  better  effect  than  one  who  works  against  his  inclinations. 
The  former  is  an  harmonious  unity;  the  latter  is  divided  against 
himself. 

Each  individual,  in  the  course  of  a  year,  may  take  part  in  the 
labors  of  a  dozen,  twenty  or  more  different  groups  and  in  widely 
separated  series;  and  by  this  means  of  diversity  of  tastes  and 
change  of  occupation  there  is  a  complete  interlocking  of  interests; 
perfect  provision  for  the  performance  of  every  function,  and  for 
the  healthful  exercise  of  all  the  powers  of  the  individual. 

With  the  proper  endowments,  this  organization,  this  education, 
this  unity  of  interests,  counterpoised  by  this  plenary  develop¬ 
ment  of  personality,  is  the  frame-work  or  anatomy  and  the 
physiology  of  society  in  full  health,  or  social  harmony.  It  is  the 
institution  of  the  Divine  Social  Code,  in  the  first  or  lowest  degree. 

The  number  necessary  to  maintain  the  full  activity  of  all  in¬ 
terests,  including  education  and  amusements,  and  comprising  a 
scale  of  characters  and  every  variety  of  tastes  is  about  one  thous¬ 
and  people  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages. 

This  is  the  societary  and  the  political  unit  or  township.  There, 
as  this  order  should  more  and  more  prevail,  would  be  grouped  in 
larger  and  still  larger  combinations  to  form  complete  counties, 
states  and  nations,  and  the  nations  finally  grouped  under  one 
arbitrary  administration  of  the  whole  globe.  This  will  be  the 
universal  institution  of  the  Divine  Social  Code. 

Thus  there  will  be  no  more  wars.  Industrial  armies  will  be 
organized,  to  work  under  general  plans,  for  the  reclaimation  of 
earth’s  waste  places,  such  as  irrigation  of  deserts  and  reclothing 
them  with  verdure;  the  drainage  of  marshes  and  subjecting  them 
to  cultivation  and  forestry.  These  measures  will  eradicate  some 
of  the  permanent  scourges  we  are  afflicted  with,  as  cholera,  plague, 
typhus,  yellow  fever,  etc. 

These  legions  of  industry — armies  of  construction — would  also 
steadily  push  cultivation  toward  the  poles,  and  by  planting  belts 
of  timber  about  the  globe,  protect  the  people  and  their  crops  and 


i 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX.  3 

cattle.  This  will  enlarge  the  area  of  production  and  in  some  de¬ 
cree  modify  climates. 

Another  unitary  labor  will  be  a  comprehensive  system  for  im¬ 
proving  the  means  of  travel  and  transportation  by  water  and  rail, 
to  promote  commerce  and  the  free  intercommunication  of  all  peo¬ 
ples.  By  these  means  man  is  to  fulfil  his  function  of  overseer  of 
the  globe,  and  to  improve  and  maintain  in  its  best  condition  every 
part  of  it. 

This  was  a  new  revelation.  Here  were  ideas  to  work  for.  Here 
were  aims  to  inspire  worthy  ambitions. 

Our  civilization  with  its  disorders  is  not  the  end,  but  only  a 
comparatively  short  stage  in  the  growth  of  society;  evil  is  not  to 
be  eternal,  but  only  a  temporary  incident  of  growth  from  germs 
and  due  to  the  immaturity  of  globes  and  peoples.  Man  is  to 
study  the  laws  of  Divine  Order  and  institute  accordingly,  the 
same  as  he  learns  the  laws  of  personal  health  and  conforms  to 
them. 

These  ideas  were  food  to  the  famishing,  or  as  westerly  breezes 
and  crystal  waters  to  the  fever  smitten.  A  tide  of  enthusiasm 
swept  over  the  land  and  up  rose  association  after  association,  in 
the  northern  and  westenn  states  during  a  period  of  about  six 
years.  The  energy  of  the  impulse  to  organize  new  associations 
subsided  after  1848,  but  the  interest  in  the  great  movement  has 
revived  and  is,  perhaps,  greater  now  than  at  any  former  period; 
but  is  narrower  in  its  scope,  being  limited  mostly  to  co-operative 
production  and  co-operative  distribution.  The  association  of  fam¬ 
ilies,  the  enfranchisement  of  women  as  well  as  the  laborer,  the 
integral  education,  still  await  dieir  institution. 

Among  the  earlier  associations  organized  was  that  of 

THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX , 

Of  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey. 

A  general  prospectus  was  issued  from  the  city  of  New  York,  in¬ 
viting  the  formation  of  local  organizations,  and  when  a  sufficient 
number  of  subscribers  should  be  obtained,  they  were  to  combine 
numbers  and  means  and  begin  practical  operations.  The  pros¬ 
pectus  was  signed  by  Albert  Brisbane,  Horace  Greeley,  Osborn 
McDaniel,  Edward  Giley,  J.  T.  Smith,  Frederick  Grain  and  oth¬ 
ers.  Persuant  to  this  call  The  Albany  Branch  of  The  North 
American  Phalanx  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1843.  About 
twenty  families  became  interested  in  the  movement,  of  whom 
twelve  subscribed  the  working  constitution  and  joined  the  prac¬ 
tical  movement.  The  expectation  was  entertained  that  a  number 
of  branch  organizations  would  be  formed  and  a  large  capital 
would  be  subscribed.  In  this  we  were  disappointed.  The  Albany 
branch  was  the  only  branch  formed  under  the  New  York  call, 
though  families  and  individuals  from  other  parts  of  the  state, 
some  from  the  west  and  some  from  New  England,  joined  the  move¬ 
ment;  and  when  the  original  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock 
were  all  in,  we  had  a  little  less  than  seven  thousand  dollars  to 
begin  with.  This  was  discouraging.  With  this  small  sum  the 
land  could  not  be  bought  and  endowed;  debt  would  be  incurred 
and  difficulties  and  hindrance  in  business  would  inevitably  occur. 
Debt  was  distasteful  and  contrary  to  our  purpose. 


4 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


Nevertheless,  the  determination  to  go  forward  was  not  changed. 
An  estate  of  about  seven  hundred  acres  near  Red  Bank,  in  Mon¬ 
mouth  county,  New  Jersey,  was  purchased  and  taken  possession  of 
in  September,  1843.  The  price  of  the  domain  was  814,000,  of 
which  sum  85,000  was  paid  down,  and  the  remainder  secured  by  a 
mortgage.  This  left  $2,000  for  buildings,  teams,  implements  and 
working  capital. 

The  soil  had  been  exhausted  by  slave  husbandry.  It  was,  how¬ 
ever,  gradually  renovated  by  the  liberal  application  of  the  cele¬ 
brated  “green  sand”  which  was  abundant  on  the  place. 

Half  a  dozen  families  entered  upon  the  domain  in  the  autumn 
of  1843,  finding  scant  accommodation  in  the  two  houses  on  the 
place;  and  during  the  winter  they  put  up  an  additional  building 
for  the  remainder  of  the  party  coming  the  ensuing  spring.  Dur¬ 
ing  that  year  twenty  families  had  assembled,  making,  with  single 
people,  a  population  of  over  one  hundred,  subsequently  increased 
to  an  average  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty,  including  children; 
and  made  up  of  mechanics,  merchants  and  professional  men  and 
their  families,  with  a  fair  proportion  of  single  people  of  both  sexes. 

Most  of  the  heads  of  families  had  a  knowledge  of  farming, 
which  was  important,  as  the  land  was  the  principal  means  of  sup¬ 
port  during  the  earlier  years.  Subsequently  mechanical  pursuits 
and  some  light  manufactories  for  women  were  introduced,  and  a 
mill  was  built  which  did  custom  work  for  the  neighborhood  and 
plain  and  fancy  milling  for  the  city. 

A  fair  proportion  of  the  land  was  appropriated  to  fruit  culture, 
including  the  peach,  apple,'  pear,  grape,  quince,  etc.,  and  the  apple 
plantations  are  still  among  the  finest  orchards  in  the  state.  During 
parts  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  year  a  commodious  mansion  and  ware¬ 
house  were  built  and  other  improvements  were  made  from  time  to 
time  as  means  were  at  command. 

On  taking  possession  of  the  new  mansion  a  restaurant  was  es¬ 
tablished.  The  fine  saloon,  39x70x16  feet,  was  set  with  a  row  of 
tables  on  each  side,  and  families  and  associates,  grouped  accord-, 
ing  to  their  likings,  could  consult  their  tastes  and  their  purses,’ 
the  number  being  sufficient  to  provide  economically  a  great  variety 
of  dishes.  The  average  cost  per  capita  of  table,  laundry  and 
room  rent  was  about  two  dollars  a  week,  sometimes  less. 

DIET  AND  REGIMEN 

Took  the  place  of  medicine.  After  the  first  three  years  a  doctor’s 
medical  prescription  was  an  almost  unknown  occurrence.  During 
the  thirteen  years  of  associated  life  there  were  but  nine  deaths 
from  all  causes,  including  accidents,  in  a  population  made  up  of 
the  usual  proportion  of  all  ages,  from  infancy  to  advanced  years, 
and  in  number  from  120  to  150  people.  It  is  the  lowest  death  rate 
I  have  seen  recorded. 

Pervading  this  social  and  industrial  life  was  a  closely  graded 
ORGANIZATION . 

The  form  of  it  was  that  announced  by  Fourier  as  the  mode  of 
distributing  forms  and  forces  throughout  the  universe,  namely: 
SERIES  OF  GROUPS. 

Each  department  in  the  association  was  conducted  by  a  serie 


5 


THE  NOETH  AMEBIC  AN  PHALANX. 

and  each  serie  was  constituted  of  as  many  groups  as  there  were 
divisions  of  functions  in  the  department,  so  that  each  detail  of 
industry  was  the  special  charge  of  the  group. 

At  the  beginning  of  each  year  a  general  plan  was  agreed  upon 
of  the  kinds  and  extent  of  operations  in  the  various  departments 
deemed  desirable  to  carry  on  during  the  year.  The  plan  was 
posted  on  the  bulletin  board  and  the  members  wrote  their  names 
under  the  titles  of  the  industries  they  desired  to  engage  in.  If 
any  important  function  was  not  sufficiently  provided  for  in  the 
first  instance,  volunteers  were  obtained  so  that  nothing  should  be 
neglected  for  want  of  a  suitable  provision  of  labor  force.  In 
some  cases  men  were  hired  to  supplement  the  force  of  members. 
Six  to  eight  such  were  employed.  This  was  the  first  step;  the  next 
was  for  each  group  to  elect  its  chief  or  manager,  who  was  ac¬ 
countable  for  the  proper  conduct  of  the  detail  undertaken  by  the 
group,  under  the  general  direction  of  the  council  of  the  serie  of 
which  he  was  a  constituent.  To  illustrate: 

The  agricultural  serie  was  subdivided  into  four  principal  groups, 
as: 

Farming, 

Market  gardening, 

Orchard,  , 

Experimental. 

Each  group  was  constructed  of  three  to  seven  or  more  members. 
The  chiefs  of  these  groups  constituted  a  council  of  the  department 
of  agriculture.  This  council  elected  its  chief,  who  was  the  gen¬ 
eral  manager  of  the  department  and  presiding  officer  of  the  its 
council.  The  other  departments  had  the  same  constitution.  There 
were  six  principal  departments  and  corresponding  series,  as: 

1.  The  agricultural,  described  above. 

2.  The  stock  serie,  having  care  of  domestic  animals,  the  teaming 
establishment  and  the  dairy. 

3.  The  manufacturing  serie,  including  the  milling  and  mechani¬ 
cal  industries,  the  canning  of  fruits  and  vegetables,  and  the 
household  manufactures,  the  latter  conducted  principally  by 
women. 

4.  The  domestic  serie,  including  all  labors  in  the  preparation  and 
service  of  food,  the  laundry,  dormitory,  etc.;  nine  groups. 

5.  The  educational  serie,  having  care  of  the  nursery,  school, 
classes  engaged  in  special  studies,  and  the  library  and  reading 
room. 

6.  The  festal  serie.  Amusements  as  well  as  work  were  regarded 
of  sufficient  importance  to  be  provided  for  by  methodical  or¬ 
ganization.  Weekly  entertainments  of  some  sort  were  usually 
given  throughout  the  year;  in  summer  concerts  and  an  occasion¬ 
al  excursion  to  the  sea-shore;  later,  dramatic  representations, 
dancing,  debates  on  current  public  questions,  school  exhibitions, 
etc.  The  amusements  were  free,  participated  in  by  old  and 
young  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  excursion  parties,  were  at 
home.  Our  young  people  were  not  scouring  the  country  on  win¬ 
ter  nights  in  all  weathers. 

For  unclassified  functions  three  groups  were  formed.  One  such 
looked  after  the  scattering  of  rubbish  and  occasional  displacement 
of  implements  incident  to  pressure  in  shipping  stuff  and  receiving 


6 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


goods,  and  oilier  contingent  work.  It  was  named  the  Contingent 
group.  Another  undertook  the  performance  of  repugnant  func¬ 
tions  not  otherwise  provided  for;  and  another  detailed  one  or 
more  of  its  members  to  receive  and  care  for  visitors. 

By  means  of  this  thorough  organization  responsibilities  were 
distributed  and  all  work  and  business  were  provided  for.  Each 
detail  of  labor  was  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  employ  a  group  or 
at  least  a  functionary,  and  when  the  regular  work  was  done  the 
laborer  could  come  in,  bathe,  dress  for  supper  and  afterward 
spend  his  evening  in  society,  in  the  reading  room  or  at  study,  the 
chiefs  only  having  to  arrange  for  the  next  day’s  work. 

In  this  way  the  never-ending  chores,  which  are  the  real  burden 
of  farm  life,  more  harrassing  than  the  day’s  work  afield,  were  al¬ 
most  done  away  with.  The  sub-division  of  domestic  work  afforded 
alike  relief  to  women,  where  work,  in  the  simjile  family  system,  “is 
never  done.” 

True,  in  the  earlier  periods  of  such  movements,  before  organiza¬ 
tion  becomes  well  settled,  or  for  lack  of  numbers  to  complete 
organizations,  gaps  or  breaks  occur  which  require  a  steady  eye 
and  hand  and  purpose  to  fill  them  or  make  connections;  but  with 
a  sufficient  number  of  people  some  are  usually  found  who  have 
the  necessary  devotion  and  diversity  of  gifts  to  supply  deficiencies 
and  help  the  mechanical  running.  Most  of  the  members  be¬ 
longed  to  a  number  of  groups  whose  labors  succeeded  each  other; 
and  in  cases  of  emergency  the  forces  of  several  series  could  be 
concentrated  upon  one  detail  to  save  a  crop  or  bring  up  an  arrear 
of  work. 

Every  evening  there  was  an  assemblage  of  heads  of  departments, 
named  the  Industrial  Council,  to  arrange  the  distribution  of  forces 
for  the  labor  of  the  next  day.  If  teams  were  wanted  or  addition¬ 
al  force  required  at  any  point  the  want  was  provided  for;  and  the 
labor  bulletin,  posted  in  the  main  hall,  announced  the  arrangement. 

The 

POLITICAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE  ORGANIZATION 

• 

Was  interwoven  with  the  Industrial  Organization.  As  explained 
above,  each  serie  had  its  chief,  who  was  its  industrial  manager 
and  president  of  its  council.  A  late  revision  of  the  constitution, 
or  more  properly  by-laws,  provided  that  each  chief  of  a  serie 
should  be,  ex  officio,  a  member  of  the  central  council.  This  body 
was  at  once  the  legislature  and  the  executive  council  of  the  as¬ 
sociation. 

The  president,  secretary  and  treasurer  were  elected  by  popular 
vote.  Constitutional  questions  were  determined  by  the  same  vote. 

By  these  means  suffrage  was  universal,  without  distinction  of 
sex,  and  women  necessarily  held  office  because  'deemed  by  their 
associates  competent  to  manage  a  department  of  business  and  to 
represent  them  in  legislation  and  in  the  councils. 

There  was,  therefore,  a  two-fold  reason  at  the  foundation  of  the 
council,  as  each  member  of  it  was  not  only  the  representative 
of  a  constituency,  but  also  of  some  economic  or  social  interest. 

Suffrage  for  representation  in  the  councils  was  regulated  by  the 
serial  order;  each  member  of  a  group,  if  old  enough  to  be  a 
regular  working  member,  was  a  voter  within  the  limits  of  the 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


group,  and  the  voters  could  not  be  otherwise  than  well  informed 
respecting  the  character  and  capacity  of  their  representatives,  for 
constituent  and  representative  were  in  daily  association  in  daily 
pursuits. 

LABOR  AND  CAPITAL. 

At  the  beginning  of  each  year  a  primary  award  for  labor  and 
for  the  use  of  capital  was  fixed  upon  as  a  basis  of  division  of  pro¬ 
ceeds.  Five  per  cent  for  the  use  of  capital  and  a  medium  rate 
of  a  dollar  for  a  day  of  ten  hours’  ordinary  labor  were  the  latest 
rates. 

The  various  kinds  of  labor  were  classified  according  to  their 
usefulness,  attractiveness  and  repulsiveness,  and  corresponding 
prices  fixed  for  performing  them.  Works  of  usefulness  occupied 
the  middle  place;  those  which  were  necessarily  exhausting  or  re¬ 
pugnant  were  rated  highest,  and  the  light  and  the  attractive 
work  stood  lowest  in  price. 

A  scale  of  rates  for  individual  performance  ranged  through  two 
octaves — that  is,  eight  degrees  above  and  eight  degrees  below  the 
medium  rate  of  one  dollar  a  day.  The  value  of  a  degree  was  five 
cents  an  hour;  and  each  degree  of  variation  from  the  standard 
rate  indicated  a  special,  definite  quality  of  performance — some  ex¬ 
cellence  or  the  lack  of  it. 

The  decending  scale  ran  down  to  rates  for  children,  the  as¬ 
cending  scale  recognized  executive  capacity  and  skill. 

Within  the  limits  agreed  upon,  each  group  rated  its  own  num¬ 
bers.  Performance,  not  sex  or  a'ge,  was  the  reason  of  the  rate; 
and  frequently  the  same  person  would  receive  different  rates  in 
different  groups,  according  to  the  character  of  his  performance  of 
different  labors.  In  case  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  rating  of  the 
group,  an  appeal  to  the  council  of  the  serie  by  the  dissatisfied 
member  was  the  remedy. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  the  value  of  the  year’s  products  was  as¬ 
certained  and  a  final  distribution  of  the  proceeds  was  made  to  each 
member  ratably  on  his  or  her  earnings  at  the  rates  of  the  primary 
award,  whether  as  laborer  or  capitalist,  as  most  of  them,  to  some 
extent,  were. 

Five  per  cent  as  the  basis  of  dividends  was  a  reduced  rate,  but 
was  regarded  as  still  too  high.  The  late  Edward  Kellogg,  author 
of  “A  New  Monetary  System,”  urged  this  point  strongly,  saying 
that  the  rate  of  property  increase  in  the  state  of  New  York,  as 
shown  by  the  state  register,  for  a  period  of  ten  years  was  less  than 
two  per  cent  a  year;  that  the  association  could  not  withdraw  its 
labors  or  products  from  the  influence  of  the  general  laws  which 
regulate  distribution,  and  that  so  high  a  rate  as  five  per  cent  as  a 
basis  of  dividends  would  absorb  the  property.  Probably  he  was 
right.  We  should  have  more  than  doubled  production,  or  lowered 
the  rate  of  dividends  to  prevent  the  absorbtion  of  the  property  by 
vested  capital. 

REPRESENTATIVE  MONEY . 

A  leading  aim  from  the  beginning  was  to  make  cash  settlements 
as  fully  as  possible,  and  so  abolish  debt  trade  within  the  association. 
This  was  not  easy  to  accomplish  until  the  association  instituted 


8 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


a  domestic  currency.  Many  of  the  state  bank  notes,  then  in  cir¬ 
culation,  were  at  a  discount;  and  besides,  the  supply  was  inadequate 
and  irregular.  After  a  few  years  of  varying  inconvenience  a 
currency  was  issued  with  which  all  domestic  exchanges  were  made. 

The  labor,  board  and  other  supply  accounts  were  settled  and 
balances  were  paid  monthly,  at  the  rates  of  the  primary  award. 

The  currency  was  of  the  ordinary  size  and  general  appearance 
of  a  bank  note,  but  was  ornamented  with  special  devices,  the  cen¬ 
tral  figure  being  Fourier’s  symbol  of  universal  unity. 

It  was  not  a  promise  to  pay,  for  its  text  was  the  name  of  the 
association  and  the  denomination;  besides  these  the  number,  date 
and  signatures  of  the  three  officers  and  the  devices  and  mottoes 
were  all  the  bill  contained;  but  it  was  an  evidence  of  ownership 
of  so  much  of  the  property  of  the  association  as  its  face  repre¬ 
sented.  It  was  Representative  Money,  issued  only  because  value 
had  been  produced;  and  it  was  receivable  for  ail  claims  against 
the  association;  and  it  could  be  invested  in  the  Capital  Stock. 

From  the  fact  of  prompt  circulation,  but  more  especially  from 
the  fact  that  the  office  was  a  general  clearing-house  for  the  depart¬ 
ments  and  individuals  so  that  only  balances  were  paid,  less  than 
six  dollars  per  capita  or  about  one  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
property  of  the  association,  sufficed  to  liquidate  all  balances  in 
domestic  exchange. 

The  association,  as  will  have  been  noted,  comprised  in  its  pur¬ 
pose  and  in  its  organization  something  more  than  joint  stock 
property,  co-operative  labor,  equitable  distribution  of  products  and 
and  unity  of  property  interests.  It  included  these  and  it  asso¬ 
ciated  families  in  social,  industrial  and  educational  enfranchisement 
as  well,  for  it  purposed  and  provided  in  its  organization  for  the 
guaranty  of  a  home,  society,  education  and  remunerative  employ¬ 
ment  to  all  its  members.  It  adopted  the  full  octave  of  institutions 
of  the  eighth  period,  which  includes 

THE  UNITY  OF  ALL  INTERESTS. 

It  was,  in  fact,  a  complete  commonwealth,  embracing  all  the 
interests  of  the  state,  differing  only  in  magnitude.  Indeed,  it 
might  be  deemed  a  model  state  in  miniature,  especially  in  its  po¬ 
litical  structure,  its  guarantees,  its  organization  of  labor  in  all 
departments,  its  abolition  of  the  hireling  system  and  its  represen¬ 
tative  money  superseding  debt  in  exchange.  To  suppose  that 
this  organization  of  labor,  this  social  order,  with  its  system  of 
education,  these  quantities,  were  instituted  and  maintained  with¬ 
out  patient,  persistent  effort,  would  be  a  mistake. 

In  ordinary  industrial  enterprises  the  projectors  usually  find  full 
employment  for  their  best  judgment  and  energies  to  accomplish 
successful  establishments.  Here  was  not  only  an  industry  to 
create,  suited  to  markets,  but  industries — suitable  employments 
for  a  society. 

Then  the  relation  of  laborers  to  each  other,  comprising  men, 
women  and  children,  must  be  adjusted  that  each  should  have 
equitable  compensation  for  service  rendered;  and  the  vexed 
question  of  the  relation  of  capitalist  and  laborer  must  have  an 
acceptable  settlement. 

Then  the  delicate  relations  of  members  in  the  social  state,  em- 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


9 


bracing  all  the  concerns  of  the  individual,  of  the  family  and  of 
the  society;  how  recognize  the  just  and  only  the  just  claims  of  each 
—social,  moral,  religious — and  still  manintain  harmony? 

The  experiment,  for  certainly  it  was  an  experiment,  was  perhaps 
hazardous.  The  members  were  from  the  ordinary  walks  of  so¬ 
ciety;  none  had  experience  in  closer  intimacy  than  ordinary  family 
and"  business  relations.  They  came  together,  self  moved  to  insti¬ 
tute  anew,  believing  that  man  was  made  for  society  and  that  there 
could  not  be  a  break  in  the  chain  of  law,  but  that  constantly  with 
the  economic  reasons  in  favor  of  combined  action  and  with  the 
growing  tendency  toward  organic  forms  in  the  larger  interests  of 
man,  and  supreme  in  nature,  social  order  must  also  depend  finally 
-upon  association. 

OPPOSITION . 

Friends  since  attached  to  the  old  dispensation  expressed  their 
fears  that  such  attempts  would  end  in  disappointment  and  loss  of 
time,  means  and  position.  The  press,  secular  and  religious,  had  . 
little  to  say  in  favor  of  the  social  movement,  but  much  against  it. 

Those  engaged  in  it  were  denounced  as  destructrives,  infidels,  free- 
lovers,  lunatics;  the  tendency  if  not  the  purpose  of  the  movement 
itself  was  to  undermine  the  foundations  of  religious,  social  and 
moral  order. 

The  Shakers  of  Waterlet,  N.Y.,  whom  we  visited  to  observe 
their  economic  devices  and  processes  in  domestic  affairs  and  to 
receive  such  suggestions  respecting  social  administration  as  they 
might  be  willing  to  communicate,  predicted  our  early  dissolution. 

-  The  family  sentiment,  if  nothing  else,  would  break  it  up.  The  wo¬ 
men  would  have  irreconcilable  differences  about  their  children. 

The  people  of  the  neighborhood  were  distrustful  and  stood  aloof 
for  several  years.  * 

INTERNAL  AFFAIRS. 

This  extreme  pressure  did  not  shake  our  purpose  or  dampen 
our  ardor,  nor  did  it  prevent  the  development  of  faction  within. 

After  taking  possession  of  the  domain,  three  months  had  not 
expired  before  the  president  and  his  associate  directors  came  to 
a  dead-lock  respecting  the  business  administration. 

The  constitution  provided  that  the  president  should  have  the 
general  superintendence  of  the  affairs  of  the  association.  This 
the  president,  Mr.  Allen  Worden,  construed  to  mean  a  grant  of 
authority.  In  this  view  he  was  sustained  by  his  friend,  Dr.  Otis 
Jenks,  a  director.  The  other  directors  on  the  ground,  Messrs. 

Bucklin,  Starlls  and  Dwelle,  supposed  that  consultations  would  It  A  ft  v<  S' 
be  orderly,  and  that  a  common  agreement  should  determine  ques¬ 
tions  of  administration. 

With  these  differences  of  judgment  as  to  measures,  and  differ¬ 
ences  of  ^opinions  respecting  the  distribution  of  administrative 
powers,  business,  other  than  daily  routine,  stopped.  Fortunately 
this  occurred  in  the  winter  when  little  could  be  done  beyond  pro¬ 
vision  for  daily  wants.  Beside  producing  social  discomfort,  it  only 
postponed  consideration  of  plans  for  the  coming  year. 

An  appeal  was  made  to  the  directors  remaining  in  Albany,  and 
in  a  general  meeting,  called  to  consider  the  matter,  a  delegation  of 


10 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


two  directors  was  appointed  to  visit  tlie  domain  and,  if  possible, 
effect  a  reconciliation  of  differences  and  settle  plans  of  business. 

This  was  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1844.  The  delegates 
went  immediately  to  the  domain  and  heard  the  full  statements  of 
all  parties;  and  the  end  of  the  second  day  after  their  arrival,  they 
called  a  general  meeting  and  submitted  "the  outline  of  the  serial 
organization,  as  the  true  method  of  order.  This  was  discussed 
quite  fully.  Questions  were  asked  bearing  on  all  points  of  this 
form  of  organization  and  as  to  its  practical  operation  under  ex¬ 
isting  circumstances.  The  explanations  were  satisfactory  and  the 
method  was  adopted. 

The  number  on  the  place  had  increased  to  about  forty,  and 
three  series  were  organized  at  once.  The  chiefs  of  groups  and 
series  met  from  time  to  time,  until  they  matured  a  plan  of  opera¬ 
tions  for  the  year;  and  then  met  every  evening  to  distribute  forces* 
for  the  next  day;  and  from  that  time  forward  there  wras  no  break 
nor  discord  in  the  administration.  Each  department  was  repre¬ 
sented  in  the  Executive  council;  the  wants  of  all  of  them  were 
known  and  were  considered  in  the  light  of  existing  resources  and 
of  a  common  interest. 

As  business  expanded  new  series  were  formed  and  existing 
series  added  new  groups  and  enlarged  old  ones,  so  as  to  maintain 
methodical  provision  for  growing  interests. 

These  measures  displeased  our  strict  constructionist  president. 
He  said  they  were  instituted  to  take  power  out  of  his  hands.  Ap¬ 
parently  he  had  not  entertained  a  conception  of  the  serial  method, 
nor  of  the  real  meaning  and  purpose  of  the  association.  He  neg¬ 
lected  attendance  of  council  meetings,  and  within  the  year 
withdrew,  predicting  that  the  association  would  dissolve  and 
scatter  in  a  twelvemonth. 

His  friend,  Dr.  Jenks,  went  out  the  next  yea?;  on  invitation;  the 
only  instance  in  which  a  member  was  requested  to  leave. 

Time  books  were  prepared  for  each  group,  and  each  member  re¬ 
corded  his  or  her  time  of  labor  every  evening,  under  its  proper 
division.  These  books  were  kept  in  the  office  and  open  to  inspec- 
©v£/s-  tion.  No  difficulty  occurred  from  our  change  of  time.  If  any 

£h y\9Z*&  were  disposed  to  overcharge,  the  members  of  his  group  would 
know  it  directly. 

In  this  matter,  as  well  as  in  the  general  affairs  of  life  in  the  as¬ 
sociation,  if  in  any  case  other  incentive  to  rectitude  were  wanting, 
publicity  and  public  sentiment  were  the  sufficient  correctives. 

THE  TABLES . 

During  the  first  two  or  three  years  a  rigid  economy  was  neces¬ 
sary.  We  had  a  common  table  and  the  bill  of  fare  was  rather 
scanty.  We  had  dietarians  of  various  stripes — those  who  simply 
wanted  a  supply  of  substantial  food;  others  who  were  delicate  and 
required  fruits,  vegetarians  proper,  Christians,  members  of  a 
small  sect  in  England  who,  from  religious  scruples,  avoided  the 
use  of  everything  which  cost  the  sacrifice  of  life. 

Under  the  circumstances  a  satisfactory  provision  for  these  varied 
tastes  could  not  be  made.  The  Christians  and  straight  vegeta¬ 
rians  formed  a  coalition  and  demanded  provision  for  their  use  of 
fruits,  eggs  and  cream  as  an  equivalent  for  the  animal  food  pro- 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


11 


vided  for  the  flesh-eaters;  and  they  made  quite  a  disturbance  for 
some  weeks.  The  Christians  said  nothing  of  their  peculiar  views 
before  joining  the  association,  but  afterward  the  chief  spokesman 
was  active  in  propagating  them.  At  the  end  of  one  of  his  ha¬ 
rangues  in  the  public  hall  one  evening,  in  which  he  denounced  the 
barbarism  and  brutality  of  slaughtering  animals  and  eating  their 
carcasses,  someone  said:  “I  observe  that  you  wear  a  fur  hat;  you 
hare  on  a  suit  of  woolen  clothing;  you  wear  leather  boots;  and  on 
frosty  mornings  I  have  seen  buckskin  gloves  on  your  hands.  How 
do  you  reconcile  your  wearing  of  these  with  your  religious  scru¬ 
ples  against  the  use  of  anything  which  costs  the  sacrifice  of  life?" 

As  a  conclusion  he  was  treated  with  the  story  of  the  Indian 
prince  who  was  horrified  on  discovering  the  world  of  life  on  a 
dried  fig,  revealed  by  the  microscope.  This  sally  undermined  the 
position  of  the  malcontents  and  they  ultimately  concluded  they, 
as  well  as  some  of  the  rest,  must  suffer  some  privations  until  the 
circumstances  of  the  association  should  improve. 

Another  unhandsome  feature  was  developed,  also  attributable 
to  the  fact  of  a  common  table;  for  it  existed  after  supplies  became 
more  abundant.  The  children  grew  reckless  in  appropriating  food 
beyond  their  want  and  wasting  it  to  a  degree  that  was  offensive; 
much  the  same  as  occurs  at  boarding  schools,  notwithstanding 
careful  supervision. 

All  these  questions — specal  diet,  of  orderly  behavior  at  the  table, 
of  economy  in  the  use  of  food — were  completely  settled  by  insti¬ 
tuting  the 

RESTAURANT . 

Each  then  selected  the  food  that  suited  him  best  and  paid  for 
only  what  he  ordered.  When  brought  to  consider  their  needs  the 
people  selected  their  food  with  more  care.  This  observance  of 
actual  requirements  was  perhaps  as  potent  an  agency  as  any  in 
maintaining  health.  Waste  was  reduced  to  a  minimum — less  than 
that  of  most  ordinary  families. 

With  the  full  supply  of  vegetables  and  fruits,  which  the  asso¬ 
ciation  produced  as  soon  as  they  could  be  matured,  the  consump¬ 
tion  of  animal  food  diminished  relatively;  pork  dropped  out  of 
use  almost  entirely. 

RELATIVE  RATES  FOR  LABOR. 

In  1853  the  mechanics  made  formal  complaint  that  the  rates  of 
award  for  their  labor  were  less  than  current  rates  outside,  and  not 
more  than  farm  labor;  and  that  besides  being  unjust,  the  higher 
outside  rates  were  a  premium  offered  to  skilled  mechanics  to  leave 
the  association,  and  also  prevented  such  from  joining  it. 

The  matter  was  referred  to  a  #ommittee  to  consider. 

In  their  report  the  committee  admit  that  the  wages  of  skilled 
mechanics  outside  were  higher  than  rates  of  award  within;  and 
claimed  that  the  association  adopted  a  different  rule  of  awards 
from  that  current  in  society  at  large;  that  this  was  done  with  de¬ 
liberation  and  from  conviction  that  the  compensations  outside  were 
not  equitable;  and  especially  the  discriminations  against  women, 
which  did  not  exist  in  the  association ;  that  these  things  had  been 
stated  in  the  beginning  as  reasons  for  adopting  a  different  rule 


t 


12 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


more  equitable;  that  the  action  of  the  association  had  uniformly 
been  accordant  with  this  declaration  and  conviction;  that  skill 
in  agriculture  was  quite  as  important  as  skill  in  the  mechanic 
arts,  and  that  it  costs  as  much  to  attain,  and  deserved  equal  rec¬ 
ognition;  that  wages  outside  were  simply  wages ,  of  the  hireling, 
and  covered  all  the  guaranties  the  mechanic  could  claim,  and  were 
held  to  be  a  full  equivalent  for  higher  cost  of  living,  loss  of  time 
anu  misfortunes;  whereas,  in  the  association  the  rates  were  a  basis 
of  award  for  sharing  proceeds  as  co-operator,  and  covered  guar¬ 
anties  of  remunerative  employment,  a  desirable  home,  good  society, 
education,  franchises,  some  of  them  not  attainable  elsewhere  at 
any  price. 

ANOTHER  ASSOCIATION . 

About  this  time  one  of  the  wealthier  stockholders,  living  in  the 
city  of  Brooklyn,  projected  an  association  near  Perth  Amboy,  in 
New  Jersey,  intended  more  especially  as  a  select  society  of  literary 
people,  artists  and  people  of  means  and  leisure.  Relatives  of  the 
projector,  living  at  the  Phalanx,  joined  the  new  movement,  taking 
with  them  some  of  the  disaffected  mechanics  and  some  others, 
some  of  whom  found  employment  in  preparing  the  grounds  and 
building  the  edifice.  A  handsome  brown  stone  structure,  over¬ 
looking  the  river  Raritan,  was  erected;  the  grounds  were  tastefully 
laid  out,  and  industries  were  to  be  connected  with  the  social  estab¬ 
lishment. 

This  attempt  demonstrated  nothing  in  the  way  of  social  indus¬ 
trial  organization,  except  the  desire  for  them.  The  people  attracted 
to  the  movement  were  too  few  in  number  to  sustain  the  cost;  and 
the  effort  to  found  industries  was  unsuccessful.  After  a  couple 
of  years  the  main  buildings  were  occupied  as  a  school  under  the 
management  of  Theodore  D.  Weld;  later  as  a  military  accademy, 
later  still  as  a  summer  boarding-house.  The  place  was  named 
Eagles  wood. 

\  SECTARIANISM. 

The  religious  views  of  a  majority  of  the  association  might  be 
characterized  as  liberal;  and  although  there  were  some  who  ad¬ 
hered  to  orthodox  forms  of  worship,  yet,  with  sufficient  numbers, 
the  associated  life  tended  greatly  to  modify  the  asperities  of 
sectarian  bigotry.  As  now  remembered,  the  following  named 
denominations  were  represented:  Universalist, Unitarian,  Sweden- 
borgian,  or  New  Church,  Baptist,  Presbyterian,  Jewish,  Quaker, 
Episcopalian,  Christian,  Shaker  and  Skeptics. 

The  bible  and  its  teachings  were  topics  of  common  discussion, 
and  always  in  a  spirit  of  tolerance;  but  sectarian  doctrines  were 
rarely  .urged;  and  never  provoked  heated  debate,  until  as  late  as 
1853,  after  the  association  had  existed  ten  years. 

Then  a  somewhat  prominent  man  who,  in  addition  to  other  pro¬ 
fessional  duties,  ministered  to  a  small  sectarian  congregation  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York,  with  some  friends  of  his  and  a  brother 
recently  received  into  the  association,  undertook  to  make  the  as¬ 
sociation  a  basis  of  missionary  enterprise.  This  party  planned 
the  movement  and  attempted  to  execute  it,  apparently  with  the 
undoubted  expectation  that  the  association  would  accept  them  as 


t 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


13 


its  religious  teachers.  This  assumption  was  offensive  to  many  of 
the  members,  especially  to  the  radicals;  and  at  the  first  meeting 
some  of  the  latter  catechised  the  preacher  with  such  plainness 
that  he  delivered  only  a  part  of  his  message.  Ill-feeling  was  en¬ 
gendered  in  both  sides;  and  the  missionary  party  retired.  Some 
sharp  correspondence  ensued,  from  which  the  following  extracts 
will  show  the  position  of  the  association  respecting  religious  ques¬ 
tions  : 

“I  received  the  enclosed  letter  from  Marcus  Spring,  who  re¬ 
quested  me  to  co-operate  with  himself  and  others  at  the  two 
phalanxes  in  sustaining  a  preacher.  *  *  *  I  shall 

write  to  Mr.  Spring  that  it  is  not  my  opinion  that  religious  culture 
or  teaching  will  be  allowed,  certainly  at  one  of  the  associations; 
and  I  would  advise  all  persons  who  have  any  regard  for  the  re¬ 
ligion  of  the  bible  and  who  do  not  wish  to  have  their  feelings 
outraged  by  a  total  want  of  common  courtesy,  to  keep  entirely 
away — at  least  from  the  North  American.”  [From  the  letter  of  E. 
Parmly.] 

From  the  reply:  *  *  “Universal  unity — that  is  to  say,  the 
unity  of  man  with  God,  or  religious  unity;  the  unity  of  man  with 
man,  or  social  unity;  the  unity  of  man  with  nature,  or  material 
unity  *  *  that,  through  the  agency  of  such  institutes, 

(see  formulae  of  eight  institutes  on  p.  1)  man  will  become  fully 
enfranchised  and  endowed  with  the  primary  conditions  of  attain¬ 
ing  to  any  possible  growth. 

“For  presenting  these  formulae  and  urging  the  organization  of 
society  in  a  practical  way,  in  conformity  with  the  dictates  of  hu¬ 
manity  and  common  wisdom,  the  advocates  of  association  have 
been  denounced  by  the  press  of  professedly  religious  bodies  and 
other  advocates  of  conservatism,  as  destructives  who  would  sap 
the  foundations  of  morals  and  overthrow  institutions  and  rela¬ 
tions  held  among  men  as  most  sacred.  *  *  *  Our 

silence  before  the  public  respecting  ourselves  secured  us  in  a 
measure  from  public  calumniation,  or  specific  discourtesy,  but  did 
not  quite  suffice  to  protect  us  from  the  customary  officiousness  of 
busy  sectaries,  who  professed  not  to  understand  how  a  people  could 
associate  without  adopting  some  sectarian  profession  of  religious 
faith — some  partisan  form  of  religious  observance. 

“In  vain  we  urge  that  our  institutions  were,  religious;  that  here, 
before  their  eyes,  was  made  real  and  practical  in  daily  life,  and 
established  as  a  fixed  societary  feature,  a  fraternity  which  the 
church  in  all  times  has  held  as  an  ideal;  that  here  the  rule:  “Do 
unto  others  as  ye  would  they  should  do  unto  you,”  is  made  possible 
in  the  only  way,  namely:  by  organization  and  social  guaranties 
which  uphold  the  just  claims  of  every  member. 

“In  vain  we  showed  that  in  the  matter  of  private  belief  we  did 
not  propose  to  interfere,  but  in  this  respect  held  the  same  relation 
of  a  body  to  its  constituent  members  that  the  state  does  to  its 
citizens;  that  tolerance  was  our  proper  course  and  must  continue 
to  be;  that  to  allow  our  organization  to  be  taken  possession  of  as 
an  agency  to  push  sectarian  constructive  doctrine  would  be  an  im¬ 
possible  descent  for  us;  and  that  from  time  to  time  various  parties 
have  urged  their  private  views  upon  us  and  whenever  they  wished, 
have,  by  an  arrangement,  had  the  use  of  room  and  such  audience 


14 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


as  they  could  attract.  But  never  until  the  past  summer  has  there 
been  such  persistent  effort  to  press  upon  us  private  observance  as 
to  excite  much  attention;  and  for  the  first  time  in  our  history 
there  arose,  through  a  reprehensible  effort,  a  public  discussion  of 
religious  dogmas,  and  to  our  regret  and  annoyance  the  usual  un- 
cliaritableness  was  exhibited  and  has  since  been  expressed  to  us.” 

After  the  subsidence  of  this  irruption  the  association  resumed 
its  usual  quietude  of  un sectarianism. 

DISCIPLINE— CRITICISM. 

Soon  after  assembling,  the  people  manifested  the  spirit  of  criti¬ 
cism.  The  usual  neighborhood  gossip  was  intensified.  A  story  or 
hint  derogatory  to  personal  character  or  conduct  had  prompt  cir¬ 
culation  and,  because  of  closer  conte  jt,  come  home  sooner  to  the 
originator. 

This  at  one  time  became  quite  annoying,  so  much  so  that  it  in¬ 
vited  grave  consideration. 

In  discussing  the  matter  it  was  suggested  that  a  “prohibitory 
tariff”  against  criticism  be  enacted,  or  that  “free  trade”  in  it  be 
allowed — let  it  do  its  perfect  work  and  cure  itself. 

To  prohibit  criticism  would  have  been  impossible — except,  per¬ 
haps,  under  authoritative  religious  denomination.  Nor,  if  practica¬ 
ble,  would  prohibition  be  desirable,  for  criticism  is  a  means  of 
refinement,  which  cannot  be  dispensed  with,  in  induces  care  in 
the  cultivation  of  manners;  research  for  improved  methods,  pro¬ 
cesses,  devices.  Its  shafts  are  leveled  against  imperfections;  and 
the  only  question  is  whether  it  shall  be  simply  destructive,  or  shall 
promote  improvement. 

This  will  depend  upon  the  character  of  the  people.  If  they 
have  not  rectitude  and  humanity  enough  to  establish  and  maintain 
a  wholesome  public  opinion  criticism  will  destroy  the  association. 

The  conclusion  arrived  at  was  to  accept 

FREE  CRITICISM  AND  PERSONAL  LIBERTY . 

The  destructive  phase  lasted  something  like  two  years,  during 
which  time  there  occurred  several  quarrels.  These,  however,  were 
quietly  settled.  With  two  or  three  exceptions,  criticism  was  never 
malignant,  but  searching  and  purgative.  It  tested  the  temper  of 
the  members  and  determined  their  motives.  Those  who  were  con¬ 
tent  to  accept  their  good  through  the  good  of  the  commonwealth 
proved  to  be  a  majority;  and  those  in  whom  personal  considera¬ 
tions  w#re  foremost,  those  who  were  not  robust  enough  to  open 
their  daily  life  to  public  observation,  gradually  worked  out. 

After  this  sifting  process,  the  association  entered  upon  what 
may  properly  be  deemed  the 

HARMONIC  PHASE  OF  CRITICISM . 

A  tone  of  courtesy  pervaded  intercourse  and  criticism  was  usual¬ 
ly  implied  in  some  pleasantry  rather  than  directly  in  the  form  of 
censure  or  complaint.  It  was  usually  prompt  to  the  occasion  and 
without  reserve — a  light  raillery  which  probed  a  weakness  and 
left  no  permanent  sting,  but  rather  stimulated  effort  to  gain 
strength;  a  delinquency  in  performance,  a  breach  of  courtesy  ex¬ 
posed — perhaps  caricatured,  but  in  good  temper,  and  dropped 


THE  NOETH  AMEEICAN  PHALANX. 


15 


with  the  occasion.  Pretense,  shams,  were  short  lived  in  that 
frank  atmosphere.  The  result  was  manifested  in  increasing  at¬ 
tention  to  every  detail  of  industry,  in  devising  improved  processes 
and  iu  the  refinement  of  manners;  and,  notwithstanding  the  indul¬ 
gence  of  great  freedom  of  speech,  no  resentments  were  cherished. 

A  sound,  safe  public  opinion  was  established  and  proved  to  be  a 
sufficient  discipline.  Indeed,  this  was  potential  from  the  begin¬ 
ning,  otherwise  the  association  would  have  dissolved  in  its  early 
stage;  but  it  was  less  apparent  until  the  more  incongruous  charac¬ 
ters  were  eliminated.  The  prediction  of  the  Shakers  that  the 
family  sentiment  would  break  up  the  association  was  not  verified. 
The  current  proverb  that  “no  home  is  large  enough  for  two  fam¬ 
ilies,”  did  not  hold  true  of  larger  numbers.  After  the  first  two 
years  and  when  the  association  got  into  good  working  order,  there 
was  less  domestic  discord  than  occurs  in  most  ordinary  households,, 
although  there  were  more  than  twenty  families,  and  part  of  the 
time  between  thirty  and  forty  children. 

The  nursery  and  school,  together  with  more  or  less  remunerative 
employment  for  the  larger  children,  relieved  the  family  of  most  of 
the  care  of  the  young. 

Besides  this,  the  youngsters  formed  their  own  corporations  to 
execute  tlieir  own  enterprises,  especially  in  the  way  of  amuse¬ 
ments,  as  expeditions  to  forest  and  stream,  experiments  in  wood¬ 
craft,  camp  life,  etc.  They  were  strong  enough  in  point  of  num¬ 
bers  to  assert,  in  some  measure,  the  proper  life  of  childhood  and 
youth;  and  it  was  only  necessary  to  recognize  this  fact,  by  allow¬ 
ing  them  the  fullest  liberty  consistent  with  order  and  good 
behavior,  to  secure  their  good-will  and  hearty  co-operation  in 
measures  tending  to  these  ends.  They  in  good  degree,  like  the 
association,  maintained  discipline  by  their  own  organization  and 
criticism;  and  the  frank  recognition  of  their  rights  in  the  labor 
groups  inspired  them  with  self-respect  and  respect  for  the  as¬ 
sociation. 

They  were  growing  up  with  a  wider  knowledge  and  a  larger  ex¬ 
perience  of  life  and  character;  of  the  ways  and  means  of  business' 
of  economic  uses  and  the  adaptation  of  means  to  ends  in  all  the 
departments  of  industry  and  exchange  than  is  attainable  under 
other  conditions.  They  acquired  a  knowledge  of  accounts  a& 
they  did  of  the  daily  routine  of  business;  as  part  of  the  duty  of 
each  member  each  day  was  to  enter  his  time  of  labor  in  the  ap- 
projjriate  book,  knowing  that  his  entry  for  himself  was  part  of 
the  cost  of  carrying  on  a  department;  and  also,  that  what  he  re¬ 
ceived  was  a  charge  against  himself  and  a  credit  to  a  department' 
and  that  the  current  results  of  business  to  each  member  and  in 
each  department  was  stated  monthly. 

They  acquired  a  repose  of  manner,  a  facility  of  expression,  a 
courteous  bearing,  not  attainable  except  by  large  and  constant 
social  intercourse. 

Indeed,  to  all  the  members,  a  term  in  the  association  was  worth 
more  as  a  means  of  education  than  a  university  course.  There 
were  always  some  inveterate  readers  who  gathered  up  and  dissem¬ 
inated  items  of  news,  information  of  inventions,  politics,  foreign 
affairs,  etc.  These  were  canvassed  in  the  labor  groups,  as  well  as 
in  the  evening  gatherings,  and  an  item  of  information  or  an  idea, 


V 


16 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


from  whatever  source,  soon  became  public  property.  From  the 
beginning  we  had  many  visitors.  They  came  from  other  asso¬ 
ciations  and  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 

The  celebrated  Robert  Owen  spent  several  days  with  us.  The 
sublime  confidence  of  the  humane,  heroic  old  man  was  a  study. 
He  would  live  to  see  his  Community  system  established  and  igno¬ 
rance  and  poverty  done  away  with.  The  Shakers  made  us  friendly 
visits;  the  Oneida  Community  sent  delegations  on  different  oc¬ 
casions  to  observe  our  forms  of  organizations  and  note  their 
working. 

To  many  of  the  people  who  visited  us  from  the  cities  and  the 
watering  places  near  us,  the  style  of  life  and  relations  they  saw 
was  a  revelation. 

Laboring  people,  producers,  working  harmoniously  together, 
enjoying  a  table,  appointments,  society  and  privileges,  some  of 
them  not  common  among  the  wealthy  and  most  of  them  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  ordinary  family  life,  taught  observers  the  value 
of  the  combined  mode  of  living,  as  books  and  sermons  could  not 
teach. 

The.  dominant  idea  of  Personal  Enfranchisemen  by  means  of 
social  and  industrial  guaranties,  was  well  established  and  main¬ 
tained  in  organic  institutions;  and  in  all  administrative  measures, 
and  in  daily  intercourse  and  usage,  the  invasion  of  personality  or 
jmvate  right  was  avoided — carefully  at  first,  afterward  uncon¬ 
sciously,  or  at  least  instinctively. 

With  domestic  harmony,  entirely  friendly  relations  with  our 
neighbors  and  increasing  production,  the  association  had  a  prom¬ 
ising  future,  except  for  its  debt.  This  was  the  weight  which,  in 
time  of  misfortune,  might  sink  us. 

The  disaster  came.  A  fire  destroyed  the  mill  and  its  contents. 
No  insurance  was  recovered,  as  the  company  holding  the  risk 
failed. 

This  loss  involved  the  association  in  debt  to  the  extent  of  $30,- 
000.  With  so  greatly  diminished  resources  the  members  did  not 
dare  undertake  to  carry  the  burden  and  make  up  the  loss. 

A  dissolution  was  voted  and  the  property  sold  for  something 
over  $80,000.  The  debts  and  expenses  of  sale  was  paid  and  the 
remainder  was  divided  to  the  stockholders.  The  associate  exist¬ 
ence  closed  in  1855-6.  Inasmuch  as  various  causes  have  been 
assigned  for  the  dissolution  of  the  association,  some  of  which  ap¬ 
peared  in  print,  I  append  in  the  form  of  a  note  the  following 
exposition,  published  in  the  American  Socialist  of  May  22,  1879. 

THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 

CORRECTION  OF  AN  ERROR. 

The  North  American  Phalanx*,  of  New  Jersey,  did  not  die,  as  we  may  be¬ 
lieve  the  testimony  of  the  obituary  notices  that  have  been  published,  because 
it  did  not  pay*  nor  because  it  could  not  replace  the  mill  destroyed  by  fire,  (for 
Horace  Grreeley  offered  to  loan  $12,000  for  this  purpose)  but  because  there  was 
not  sufficient  power  of  agreement.  We  judge  from  the  accounts  we  have  read 
that  its  financial  prospects  were  really  better  when  the  members  concluded  to 
dissolve  than  at  any  previous  period  of  its  history.  Profitable  branches  of 
industry  had  been  established,  for  the  products  of  which  there  was  an  in¬ 
creasing  market;  the  land  was  rising  in  value;  and  the  debts  of  the  Phalanx 
were  no  longer  a  source  of  embarrassment. 

I  copy  the  foregoing  from  the  article:  “Paying  Communities  not 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


17 


always  Successful,”  in  the  American  Socialist  of  April  5th,  and 
am  called  upon  to  publish  a  correction  of  the  error  contained  in 
the  statements  respecting  the  pecuniary  condition  of  the  Phalanx, 
and  which  I  have  underlined.  * 

It  is  true  that  the  industries  and  markets  of  the  Phalanx  were 
expanding  and  that  the  prospect  of  future  growth  and  prosperity 
was  generally  encouraging;  and  it  is  but  truth  to  say  that,  with  only 
one  exception,  the  Phalanx  was  a  self-supporting  commonwealth 
and  accomplished  positive  results  of  good — social,  economical  and 
political — not  attainable  out  of  association. 

It  had  abolished  law  suits  within  the  society;  it  furnished  no 
criminals  nor  paupers  to  tax  the  public;  it  had  no  children  grow¬ 
ing  up  without  literary  education,  or  ignorant  of  the  ways  and 
means  of  life;  and  the  death-rate,  taken  for  a  period  of  thirteen 
years,  was  less  than  that  of  the  Shakers. 

As  an  experiment  in  compact,  closely  graded  industrial  and  so¬ 
cial  organization,  extended  to  agricultural  and  domestic  labor,  as 
well  as  to  manufactures,  education  and  amusements,  it  was  suc¬ 
cessful. 

As  an  experiment  in  societary  relations,  including  the  intimate 
association  of  families  and  the  making  equal  to  both  sexes  alike, 
all  the  industrial,  social  and  political  franchises,  it  was  successful. 

As  a  means  of  education  and  social  culture,  transcending  any 
known  out  association,  it  was  successful;  and  against  the  strongest 
prejudices  it  had  won  the  confidence  and  respect  of  its  neighbors 
and  a  tolerably  large  public.  It  was  a  complete  commonwealth 
in  itself;  had  ail  the  interests  and  relations,  all  the  questions  of 
personal  and  public  rights,  of  domestic  and  external  affairs  to 
consider  and  administer  that  any  commonwealth  has;  and  not¬ 
withstanding  the  dissolution  of  the  corporate  existence,  an  aroma 
of  the  old  life  still  lingers  about  the  old  place,  and  pleasant  mem¬ 
ories  of  it  will  be  cherished  by  the  members  and  many  others  as 
long  as  they  live. 

In  dealing  with  such  questions  as  the  relations  of  capitalist  and 
laborer,  including  the  rightful  power  attaching  to  non-resident 
ownership  of  stock,  the  basis  of  suffrage,  the  extent  to  which 
guaranty  of  support  could  be  maintained,  there  was  earnest  and 
prolonged  discussion;  but  within  the  first  three  years  these  ques¬ 
tions  were  mostly  settled.  The  basis  of  wages  and  dividends  was 
revised  yearly,  and  rates  were  modified  to  some  extent  from  time 
to  time;  but  I  believe  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  none  of  the  con¬ 
clusions  determined  on  these  questions,  nor  all  of  them  together, 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  break  up  the  association. 

Why,  then,  did  the  members  deliberately  vote  a  dissolution?  I 
answer:  Because  of  debt. 


*  NOTE. — At  first  the  property  was  held  by  three  trustees  for  the  benefit  of 
the  association  and  new  successions;  subsequently  by  the  general  law  of  the 
state,  authorizing  the  formation  of  corporations  for  manufacturing  and 
other  purposes,  was  amended  to  include  agriculture.  The  association  then 
filed  articles  of  incorporation,  and  the  trustees  conveyed  the  property  to  the 
corporation. 

Applications  for  membership  were  admitted  by  general  ballot,  after  a  pro¬ 
bationary  term  of  one  year,  during  which  time  they  received  the  primary 
award  for  labor,  and  living  at  cost,  the  same  as  members,  but  did  not  share 
profit  and  loss. 


i 


18 


THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  PHALANX. 


The  exception  stated  above  is  that  the  association  had  not  the 
control  of  its  financial  destiny;  it  never  had. 

The  Phalanx  started  with  less  than  $7,000  cash  capital;  there 
remained  unpaid  $9,000  of  the  original  mortgage;  a  new  engine 
and  boiler  had  been  put  into  the  mill;  and  the  mill  was  filled  full 
of  grain,  mostly  wheat,  purchased  on  a  credit  of  three  months.  In 
a  few  hours  one  Sunday  morning,  late  in  1855,  most  of  this  prop¬ 
erty  was  reduced  to  ashes;  leaving  us  with  a  debt  of  $30,000  to 
provide  for,  and  with  almost  no  resources  except  agriculture  to 
meet  early  maturing  obligations;  for  in  the  mill  was  centered  our 
working  capital,  and  the  orchards,  except  the  peach,  had  not  yet 
borne  fruit.  The  mill  was  partially  insured,  but  who  insures  the 
underwriters?  The  company  holding  the  risk  failed,  and  so  the 
loss  was  total,  except  a  damaged  engine  and  boiler. 

A  strenuous  effort  was  made  to  borrow  money  for  rebuilding 
the  mill.  To  the  Shakers  at  New  Lebanon  we  made  two  proposi¬ 
tions,  one  of  which  was  tor  a  loan  for  a  term  of  years;  the  other 
was  to  sell  them  about  half  our  land.  Both  propositions  were 
declined.  Brother  Evans  will  remember  the  event. 

If  the  debt  could  have  been  reduced  about  one  half  by  the  sale 
of  half  the  domain,  we  might  possibly  have  gone  on  in  a  crippled 
condition  for  an  indefinite  period.  If  a  loan  for  rebuilding  the 
mill  had  been  effected,  the  debt  would  have  been  increased  to 
$42,000.  To  pay  installments  off  so  large  a  debt  and  yearly 
interest  of  $2,500  would  have  been  beyond  our  ability.  Our  re¬ 
sources  could  not  be  made  to  justify  the  undertaking.  But  we 
had  not  even  this  option,  for  a  large  part  of  the  debt  was  due  to 
the  farmers  of  the  neighborhood  and  required  provision  for  pay¬ 
ment  at  intervals  during  the  next  three  months. 

So,  after  exhaustive  efforts  to  avoid  breaking  up  and  exhaustive  - 
discussion  of  possibilities,  the  final  measure  of  a  dissolution  of  the 
association  and  division  of  the  projjerty  was  carried  by  a  vote  of 
the  members. 

We  raised  on  mortgage  bonds,  mostly  in  our  county,  a  loan  of 
$20,000,  discharged  the  floating  debt;  mapped  the  domain  into 
parcels  of  various  sizes,  from  150-acre  farms  to  lots  of  five  acres; 
sold  out  the  entire  estate,  fixed  and  movable,  at  auction;  paid  all 
debts  and  the  expenses  of  sale  and  settlement,  and  divided  to  the 
stockholders  57%  per  cent  of  their  investments. 

It  is  true,  also,  that  a  non-resident  stock-holding  interest  used 
the  stress  of  the  occasion  to  urge  the  measure  of  dissolution.  In 
the  ordinary  course  of  affairs  this  interest  could  have  been  con¬ 
trolled  as  it  had  been ;  but  in  view  of  the  insufficient  resources  to 
carry  the  burden  of  so  large  a  debt,  the  stoutest  yielded  to  the 
inevitable,  although  voting  against  dissolution  to  the  last. 

To  many  of  the  members,  probably  to  most  of  them,  the  sur¬ 
render  of  the  organization  and  the  life  it  housed,  was  one  of  the 
capital  trials  of  life.  CHARLES  SEARS. 

Silkville,  Kansas,  May.  10,  1879. 


Sir 


